Difference between Tundra w/Towing Pkg and Tundra/TRD towing pkg

TUNDRA TRD trucks - OFF ROAD PACKAGE

I see many Tundra's that say OFF ROAD PKG - does that mean it has the full Tow Pkg with add'l transmission cooler and beefed up alternator and the proper suspension for TOWING a TT of about 8600 lbs. Does the Off Road Pkg have a better advantage when towing then Tundra with just the Tow Pkg (Haul/Tow button).

Trying to compare the TUNDRA with Tow Pkg against the Tundra TRD Off-Road Pkg and the differences.

We are not off-road types but I do want to understand the different towing equipment between the two types of TUNDRAS. Occasionally we'd like to do some boondocking though....

Really would appreciate your feedback...

 

Tundras only have one tow package currently. Any of them with the tow package will have the same alternator, and the external transmission cooler was removed from all the Tundras in the 2019 model year.

The TRD Off road does not affect the tow package in any way. Here is a pic of what the TRD Off road package adds to an SR5 from the Toyota site

 

I just saw on your info that you are looking at the 2014-2017 model years, so any tow package should have the external trans cooler, and they will all have the same alternator if you are looking at the 5.7 engine. Also, the stuff in my previous post may not apply exactly the same because packages have shifted from year to year, but there is only one tow package and it won't be affected by the off road package. They are unrelated.

 

This attachment is from the 2020 brochure. It goes by chasiss, drivetrain, and trim level, not packages.

 

Why did Toyota remove the external cooler on 2019? Did they feel it wasn’t necessary or beef up cooling system in anyway to compensate. Just curious.

 

8600 lbs is a bit heavy for a halfton.

 

They removed it after testing without it didn't show the trans getting out of spec on trial runs. The cooler/warmer on it keeps the trans temp within Toyota's target range on heavy pulls.

 

Here's a video that has Toyota's official response. @T-bone Tundra 63

https://youtu.be/Y5TnZsscYb4?t=39

 

...because they knew I was going to buy a 2020 and that I would search for a solution to almost 230 degree transmission temps while NOT towing. They knew this would consume my every thought and keep me with an empty wallet fixing what should be standard equipment on a truck that is rated to tow almost 10000 pounds.

 

I'm sorry rant back on...

So Sweers is saying Toyota based their decision to not put a trans cooler on the truck because of some route in Colorado that is 11 miles long??? WTF!? Is he serious? What about the guy that is towing in the desert mountains for 500 miles??? Well good for Toyota saving themselves prob $50 in parts on the Tundra when it's all said and done! As soon as I get the money a trans cooler is going on my 2020.

 

By that logic I should be howling at every naturally aspirated vehicle manufacturer because I live at high elevation and their sea level performance numbers are unattainable without forced induction. You can't get mad at them for saving cost when MOST buyers will not see a significant difference with or without the cooler on there.




Two apologies owed right now: First, sorry to the OP for the thread jack. Second, Sorry to Wallygator because I am having fun pushing buttons. Zero offense intended, but if you are offended, Zero Fcks given.

 

No need to apologize. It must sound like I am legit mad...nah...just annoyed with cost cutting on what I feel is an essential part. PLUS!, I'm enjoying having my buttons pushed. (not that there is anything wrong with that )

An yeah I get it, I have OCD about this vehicle and most drivers could give a crap and it's most likely not needed. But it's needed on my truck.

 

Love this thread!.. Has anyone up to this point had any trans problems towing with the 19+ models, or is this just speculative?

 

Most likely speculative. But I have a friend who has a 2016 so it came with a cooler and he see about 195 vs about 230 on my 2020. both empty and not towing with outside temps in the 70's-80's. So under a load those temps will go up. Also off road those temps will go up.

 

It is purely speculative. People hook up stuff to see the temp and don't like the numbers, but to date I haven't found anybody that has had an issue because of it. If it truly bothers anyone there are options to add one. https://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Coolers/Toyota/Tundra/2019/D13504.html?vehicleID=20194041692

 

Looking through the specs posted by @tech1208 it shows the 2020 Tow pkg includes a “supplemental engine oil cooler” and a “supplemental transmission cooler”.

What exactly are these?

 

The oil cooler is by the filter I believe. It’s small and probably doesn’t do much. The transmission cooler that they reference is the cooler/warmer in the 2020. All 07-20 have it, but the 19-20 call it a cooler too.

I think he gave the lawyers answer in that video. You know he wouldn’t ever say we messed up and it needed it. But like other said, no one knows how many trans have or will go bad due to lack of a cooler and towing.

I always wonder why people say a trans cooler isn’t needed, but we have a power steering cooler when the ps boil point is like 600*. Why didn’t Toyota remove that?

 

Reading information elsewhere suggests for every 20F transmission temps rise above 200F cuts the life of the transmission in half. Not sure if that’s true but heat is the worst enemy of most every engineered component.

I don’t tow a lot so I’ve not paid much attention to the transmission temps on my 2019.

 

I don't think that is an apples to apples comparison. It's not about the fluid boiling point. It's about the temp tolerances of the fluid in the given application. My guess is that the requirements of the power steering system might generate more heat. Also, if your power steering fluid overheats and either breaks down or fails and you lose power steering at 70 miles per hour then you are at a pretty high risk of an accident. If the transmission fluid fails you are much less likely to be in an accident as a result. Liability for the company plays a part in all decisions.

I would guess that the biggest reason why it was deemed that a separate trans cooler isn't really needed is because these are 1/2 ton trucks that are likely going to spend far less than 50% of their time under heavy load. Toyota is not dumb. They know that people add things to vehicles. Why not save a bit of $$$ on a cooler that a high percentage of the trucks will never need, and just let those who are worried about it add one later? Nobody is selling their Tundra off because it doesn't have a trans cooler. They howl about it and either do nothing, or they add one. Agree with it or not, but it does make sense from a business perspective.

 

Yes, in all these threads about it I’ve said probably 10% or less tundras actually tow. And even less actually tow something that will overheat their transmission.

But I don’t think they said in 2019, after it was there for 12 model years (07-18), on a model that was being redesigned 3-4 years later, let’s spend some R&D money to see if it’s really needed and remove it. I think there was another reason that they aren’t saying, and won’t because of lawyers. I read it was the change in Freon in 2019 that caused the cooler to not be able to be shared with the condenser. But we will never know, just like we won’t ever know the failure rate either.

Id also guess a trans that locks up at 70mph while towing would be just as dangerous as ps going out. My steering rack went out on my 2010 and I could still steer a little.

 

I can agree with most of that. Though I doubt a transmission will have a single critical failure the same way PS will. It's a degradation and multiple symptoms over time type of system most of the time.

 

While not a Tow Pkg feature the additional 38 Gal tank that come with certain package would be a nice have for towing.